2011-09-26 15:08:41

Lay missionaries enter consecrated life


(September 26, 2011) Three lay missioners took their first vows as consecrated singles in a ceremony held on Sunday at the Holy Rosary Church in the Indian capital New Delhi. Archbishop Vincent Concessao who presided over a Mass at the Rosary Church said that every Christian is called to be a missionary. About 250 Catholics, including relatives of the newly ‘consecrated singles’ of Santvana community attended the multilingual Mass, in which 12 priests also took part. Brother Kalyan Ekka and Sr Reena Kujur of Jharkhand and Br Amit Paul of Assam took their vows of chastity, poverty and obedience. Bishop Concessao, gave each of them a ring, symbolic of their betrothal to Christ, a lighted candle, a crucifix and a copy of the Santvana community Constitution. Santvana, which means consolation is a lay movement started in 1989 by Fr. Dheeraj Sabu. The community is formed by lay men and women who wish to be disciples of Christ, on the path of love, building up and proclaiming His Kingdom, said Fr Sabu. The movement focuses on programs of formation for evangelization, pastoral training for the laity, correspondence courses, and mission initiatives in various Indian dioceses, he said. During the Mass four married couples and three singles also took vows to become associate members or collaborators of the community.








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